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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Summer is almost here, and the weather is getting warmer.
You probably can’t wait to hit the pool, lake or beach.
You’re careful to keep your child from drowning while they’re in the water, but there’s also a real danger of drowning once they get out.
Susan Helms with Safe Kids Mid-South joined us to explain secondary drowning.
Secondary drowning is when a small amount of water is inhaled, irritates the lungs and causes inflammation and swelling.
The lungs can’t exchange oxygen to and from the blood, and the swimmer’s blood oxygen level drops.
Symptoms for both dry and delayed drowning are:
- Coughing
- Trouble breathing
- Lethargy
- Chest pain
- Irritability, because oxygen is not reaching the brain
